Multiple floor strip



Sept. 22, 1931. p GALA$$| MULTIPLE FLOOR STRIP Filed March 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet Sept. 22, 1931. p. GALASSI 1,824,715

MULTIPLE FLOOR STRIP Filed March 5. 1930 2 Sheets-$heet 2 3.75. 76. flZ /z amuawl'o'c Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PAsoUALn GALASSI, on New YORK, N. Y.

MULTIFLE, FLOOR STRIP Application fiIed' March 5, 1930.. Serial No. 433,316.

Relativel thin strips may readily be ob tained out of sheet metal, and are suitable for I floors of moderate size; however, relatively large floors, or floors composed of relatively large units, call for strips having suflicient rigidity to withstand the lateral pressure of the material without bulging when the floor is laid. These heavier strips are also generally maderout of sheet metal but brass being expensive material, their use materially increases the cost of the floor. At times the ornamental features are such as to require extra thick metallic strips showing through the material, and in these cases, the cost is still higher.

Aside from their relatively high cost, heavy gauge strips also generally require more expensive operations and the use of heavier machines and dies for the production of anchoring and positioning means which are generally ofl'set oroth'erwise obtained from the body of the strip itself.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dividing strip of a novel'and improved type suitable for use in terrazzo and like floors said stri bein rovided with means adapted to support or receive an additional section or sections for the purpose of varying the thickness of the upper portion of the strip. Another object is to.provide a novel and improved construction of dividing strip for floors of the character specified, whereby the thickness of the exposed part of the strip may be varied at will merely by adding one or more sections to the main or supporting strip.

A further object of the invention is to .provide a new type of dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors comprising a main section which can of itself be used as a relatively thin dividing strip and one or more sections which may optionally be added to said main section for the purpose of increasing the width of the exposed portion of the strip, said added section or sections being made of the same or of a difierent metal from thatused for themain section. c

Other objects and advantages of the present invention willimore fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

Various embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

b Fig; l is a fragmentary sectional view in perspective of a strip embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross vertical section of the same;

3 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the main section of the section ,of' the strip shown inFigs. 1, 2;

r Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same strip minus one of the additional sections;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of a strip blank illustrating the method of producing two strip sections of the type shown in Fig.3; 7

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a main strip'section in which the lugs or flanges for supporting the additional section are obtained by punching out portions of the body oft-he strip without interfering with the continuity ofits lower edge;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of said strip showing the main section and two additional sections, the edges of the supporting flanges or lugs being bentover and retaining flanges formed integral with the additional sections;

F 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in perspective of a similar strip in which only one additional section is used;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a strip comprising a main section and two additional sections interlocking with and retained by lugs punched out of the main section, each additional section having their lower edge bent outwardly so as to produce a self anchoring connection with the main section when the strip is retained in position by the floor composition Fig. is a fragmentary View in perspective of the main section of a multiple strip in which the supporting means for an additional section or sections are obtained by laterally bending the intermediate portion of the main strip so as to form a substantially horizontal flange interposed between the upper and the lower portion of thesaid main section; I 7

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the same main section together with two additional sections increasing the Width of'the upper portion of the strip;

Fig. 12-is a fragmentary sectional View in "perspective of a strip somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 11 in which the main section is provided with means for preventing lateral displacement of the additional section or sections; 7

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of a strip similar to that shown in Fig. 12, having its 5.15 lateral retaining means projecting beyond the edge of a flange in'tegralwith the additional section;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the same strip showing the lateral retaining means bent over the edge of a flange integral with an additional section;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section of a strip em- -bodying my invention in a somewhat different form;

- Fig. 16 is a vertical section of a strip comprising a main section and a relatively. thin additional section retained in position by the bent over edges of lugs laterally extending from the main section;

Fig. 17 is a vertical section of a similar strip in which.the same main section is used in connection with a thicker additional section,

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section of a terrazzo floor illustrating the use of a strip of the type shown in Fig. 7;

F ig. 19 is a fragmentary vertical section of a terrazzo floor illustrating the use of a strip of the type shown in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary vertical section of a terrazzo floor illustrating the manner of using a strip of the type shown in Fig. 11,

comprising only one additional section.

The structure illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 comprises a main section 21 which is in itself a complete dividing strip and two additional sections 22, 23 which are combined therewith to form a strip having a relatively thick head portion and a relatively thin rib portion de- 59 pending therefrom.

The main section 21 comprises an upper portion 24 having an uninterrupted upper edge 25 flush with the surface of the floor. The width of said upper portion 24 is equivalent to the depth of the upper layer of the floor. Said main section furthermore comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced lugs 26 depending from the upper section, and is also formed with lugs or ears 27 laterally extending from the lower edge of the'upper portion at one side thereof, .and with similar lugs or ears 28 laterally extending therefrom at the other side.

The outer edges 29 of said lugs or ears are shown bent upwardly and since all the ears on'one side are in longitudinal alignment with one another, they collectively form a longitudinal support upon which an additional section may be placed in order to increase the width of the exposed portion of the strip.

The additional sections 22, 23 are shown in the form of angles comprising a vertical rib member such as 30 the height of which cor; responds to the distance of the upper surface" of the lugs 27, 28 and the upper edge 25 of the main section, and a flange such .as 31 laterally extending from the lower edge thereof, the width of said flange corresponding to the distance between the lateral surface of upper portion 24 of the main section and the inner surface of turned up edges 29 of lugs or ears 27, 28.

By virtue of this construction it is possible to place the main section in position in the ordinary manner when the floor is laid, the lower surface of lugs 27, 28 resting upon the surface of the lower layer of the floor, and lugs 26'projecting through said lower layer. Before the material composing the upper layer is spread in position, additional sections 22, 23 are placed upon the ledges formed by lugs or ears 27, 28 respectively, so that when the upper layer of the floor is laid in position, said additional sections will be auto-" matically anchored by their flange portions 31.

It will be observed that if the main section only is used, the thickness of the metal strip showing through the floor material will be equivalent tothe thickness of said main section; if only one additional section 22 is used as shown in Fig. 4 the width of the lines showing through the floor material will be equivalent to the combined thickness of the main strip and the additional strip; and if another additional section 23 is also used as shown in Figs. 1, 2, then the width of said lines will be further increased by the thick ness of said section 23.

It is, of course, possible to use additional sections of various widths so that a number of combined widthscan be obtained accord ing to requirements to be fulfilled in each case. It is also obvious'that the additional i sectionsmay be made out of metals or materials different from that out of which the main section is made so that various color combinations may be obtained. Furthermore, if theadditional section or sections are made of material having'anti-sl-ip properties the resulting floor will also acquire anti-slip properties, as I have explained in another patent entitled Method of and means for producing anti-slip terrazzo fioorings, granted to me January 7, 1930, Patent #1,742,855.

In the construction shown the total width of each lug or ear 2728- including its upturned edge 29 is equivalent to half the height of lugs 26 and the width of notches 32 intervening between adjoininglugs 26 is equivalent to the length of one lug. or ear 27 plus the length of one adjoining lug or ear 28; plus the width of one lu=g 26g so that before said adjoining ears orlugs 27, 28 are bent outwardly notches; have a stepped outline symmetricalwith andopposite to the stepped outline of the combined unbent lugs or ears and a lug26 adjoiningv thereto.

This feature is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5

Where it is seen that a strip blank 33, the

cars 27, 28. The 8 sections are completed by extending their end tracts topoints in alignment with their longitudinal tracts 36, 37 by slitting the material as shown at 38, 39, 38, 39. The material is furthermore slit in a transversal direction midway of the length of each longitudinal section35 between points such as 40,41 in alignment with longitudinal tracts 36, 37, of the S sections as shown at 42.

In this manner, the portion of material intervening between adjoining 8 sections is divided into four lugs having their edges exposed along three sides, said lugs remaining integral with the two upper portions 24, 24" of the resulting main strip sections and being bendable along longitudinal lines in alignment with longitudnal tracts 36, 37 of the 3 sections as shown in dotted lines at 43, 44.

In this manner two completemain section blanks can be obtained from a single strip blank the width of which is less than twice the height of said main sections without wasting any material, this method of production being in accordance with that described and claimed in another patent application entitled Methods of producing dividing strips for floors, filed simultaneously herewith.

The main sectionmay also be formed out of a strip blank having uninterrupted upper and lower edges, if desired. Such a construction is illustrated in Figs; 6, 7, 8, in which designates the body of the main strip section, the same being-punched at longitudinal intervals toform; openings such as 46-, 47,'by bending outwardly'earsor lugs 48, 49, defined bysaid openings, along the upper edge of-said openings.

In Fig. 6 lugs 48, 49 are shown alternately extending at one side and then at the other from the body of-the strip and their outer edges are shown upturned as at 50 and having I a height permitting of their upper edge portions beingfurther turned inwardly so as to form a groove or clearance space between said inwardlyturned edge portion and the laterally extending mainporti'on.

This construction is shown in Fig.8 where it is seen that by thusbending inwardly upper edge 50 of upwardly turned portions 50 of ears'or lugs 48, it is possibleto securely lock 7 inposition the horizontalfiange portion 51 of additional section 52 placed upon the ledge formed bylugs or ears 48. i In a similar manner it is possible to securely lock in position another additional section at the opposite side as shown in Fig. 7 where 45 is the-main section, 52 is an additional section corresponding to section 52 shown in Fig. 8 and 53 is an additional section placed at the opposite vside. of the main section. I i 7 In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9, the

main section 54 is provided with hook formed lugs or ears 55, 56 which extend laterally therefrom at an angle of less than 90 degrees, said ears or lugs forming. longitudinal ledges adapted to receive and support additional upper sections 57, 58which like in the previous cases comprise vertical rib portions such as 58 and a flange portion such as 60 which is obtained by bending outwardly the inner edge of said additional sections at an angle corresponding to the angle of lugs or ears 55, 56.

This method-of construction makes it easier to use heavier gaugestrips for additional sections, 57, 58, a lighter bending operation being required.

The inventive idea maybe applied in ways different from those so far shown and described. For instance, in Figs. 10, 11 I showa strip comprising a main section 61 which comprises an upper portion 62 and a lower portion 63 integral therewith and laterally 'ofl'set therefrom, the inner edges of said two'portions being'joined by an intermediate horizontal flange portion 64 obtained by bending a strip blank along two longitudinal lines 65, 66.

A main section thus formed can be used as a self anchoring strip when relatively thin lines are to be produced in the floor, or

else. it can be used in combination with an additional section or sections, 67 68, consisting of angle shaped bars laid on top of flange portion 64, said bars having their upper edges level with eachother and with the up 'per edge 69 of the main section, when placed of spaced lugs 74 depending therefrom.

This construction provides a channeled ledge support for the additional section 75 similar to the ledge provided by lugs 27, 28 in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, preventing lateral displacement of said additional section 75. The lugs thus obtained can also be made to project beyond the upper edgeof the flange portion of the additional section abutting thereagainst, so that their upper edges can be turned inwardly over said flange so as to securely lock the additional section or sections in position. j 7

Such a construction is shown in Figs. 18, 14 where the main section is shown composed of an upper portion '76, a lower portion 77 and an intermediate horizontal flange portion 78 punched at intervals to-form openings 7 9 isolating tongues80 which are turned upwardly as shown in Fig. 13 and the upper edges of which are turned inwardly after an additional section 81 has been placed in position so as to bend over the flange portion 82 of said additional section securely locking the same in position as shown in Fig. 14.

A channeled ledge effect can be obtained without weakening the section of thestrip by punching it at intervalsby upturning the bent edge formed at thepoint where the horizontal flange meets the lower portion of the strip. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 15 where it is seen that the main section comprises an upper portion 83, a lower portion 84 and an intermediate horizontal flange portion 85, the edge 86 where portions 8 1, reach above the level of flange 85 thus forming a channeled support for an additional section 87.

As stated before, he construction advocated lends itself to the use of additional sections of varying widths in combination with a standard main section. For instance, in

. Fig. 16 I illustrate a main section 88 of the type shown in Fig. 8 in combination with a relatively thin section 89 added thereto and locked in position by the downturned edges 90 of ears or lugs 91. In 'Fig. 17 I show the same main section in combination with a relatively thick section 92, also placed on the ledge formed by lugs or ears 91 said section 92 bein also looked in position by down turned edges 90 of ears or lugs 91, the flange portion of said additional sections 89, 92

having the same thickness and width at the base. l ,j

In Fig. 18, 93 designates a floor foundation, 94 the lower layer of a terrazzo floor and 95 the upper layer. The same figure illustrates the use of a strip of the type shown in Figs. 6, 7 and from the same it will be observed that the lower surface of the lugs or ears is on a level with the upper surface of the lower layer of the floor thus determining the depth at which thestrip is to be placed, the upper surface 96 of the strip being level with the upper surface97 of the floor.

In a similar manner, Fig. 19 illustrates the use of a strip of the type shown in Fig. 12 where it is seen that the lower surface of the flange portion 98 rests upon the upper surface of the lower layer of the floor 99 thus acting as a positioning means for the stri determining the thickness of the upper ayer 100.

In Fig. 20, I illustrate the use of a strip of the type shown in F lg. 11 comprising a main section 101 and an additional section 102 placed in a floor comprising an upper layer 103 and a lower layer 104 laid on top of a foundation bed 105.

It will be observed that the construction advocated results in the production of strips of great rigidity and strength requiring a relatively smallamount of labor for their manufacture. The invention furthermore possesses the advantage of a great flexibility, affording means for producing a considerable variety of different strips merely by varying the nature and number of the additional sections used in connection with a main section of standardized design. This makes it possible to reduce to a minimum the investment required for tools, dies and other means of manufacture and also makes it possible to reduce to a minimum the stock to be kept on hand, for the production of strips suitable for various purposes and requirements.

The constructional details of my improved strip may further vary from those shown without departing from the inventive idea; the drawings will therefore be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which; may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a main strip section proin whichrthe' strip is used, andbeing adapted per se to be used as a complete strip. I

2. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the like, comprising a'main strip section providcd with laterally extending supporting means, said main section having an uninterrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in whichtlie strip is used, and an additional section supported upon said support-- ing means, saidadditional sectionyalso having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and producing with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of which has a greater thicknessthan the upper portion of'said main section.

3. A dividing strip the'like, comprisinga main strip section provided with laterally extending supporting means, said main'section having an-uninterrupted upper edge; level with the surface of a floor in which the strip is used, and an additional sectionsnpported upon said supporting means, said additional section also having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and producing with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of which has a greater thickness than the upper portion of said main section, andmeans preventing lateral displacement of said additional section. i i

4. A dividing stripfor terrazzo floors and the like, comprising a main strip section provided with 1 laterally extending supporting means,-said main section havingan uninterrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in which the strip is used, and an additional section supported upon said supporting means, said additionalsection also having its upper edge level with the surface of the fioor, and producing, with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of whichhas a greater thickness than the upper portion of said main section, and means integral with said supporting means, preventing lateral displacement ofsaid additional section; I L

5. A dividing -'str1pfor terrazzo floors and the like, comprising a main strip section provided with laterally extending supporting meanasai'd main section having an un interrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in which the strip is used, and.

an additional section supported upon said supporting means, said additional section also having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and producing, with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion'of whichhasa greater thickness than the upper portion ofsaid main section, and

means for locking said additional section in V the like, comprising a main strip SECtlOIlPI'O- position,

6. A dividingstrip for terrazzo fioorsand for terrazzo floors and terrupted upper edge levelwi-th the surface integral with said supporting means, lock ingsaid additional section in position. v

7. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the like, comprising a .main strip section,

provided with supporting means laterally 1 extending therefrom at each side thereof, said main section having an uninterrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in which the strip is used, and an additional section at each side of saidstrip, supported upon said supporting means, each of said addi tional sections also having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and pro: ducing, with said main section, a-combined strip the upper portion of which has, a great:

main section. a .1 V

8. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the like, comprising a main strip section provided with supporting means laterally extending therefrom at each side thereof, said main section having an uninterrupted upper edge level with the surfaceof a floor inwhich the strip is used, and an additional section at each side of said strip, supported upon said supporting means, each of said additional sections also having its upper edge levelwith the surface of the floor,:and producing, with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of which has'a greater thickness than the upperportion of said main section, and means preventing lateral displacement of said additional sections; 7 V

9. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the like, comprising a main strip section provided with supporting means laterally extending therefrom at eachside thereof, said main section having an uninterruptedup'per edge level with the surface of a floor in which the stripis used, and an additional section at eachfside of saidstrip, supported upon said supporting means, each of said additional er thickness than the upper portion of said sections also having its upper edge level" with the surface .of the floor, and producing, with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of which has a greater thickness than the upper portion of said main'section, and

means integral with said supporting means preventinglateral displacement of; said additional section's.

10. A; dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the strip is used, and an additional section at each side ofsaid strip, supported upon said supporting means,.each.of said" additional sections also having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and producing, with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of which has a greater thickness than the upper portion of saidmain section, and

., means integral with said supportingrmeans lockingsaid additional sections in position.

11. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors and thelike, comprising a main strip section provided with laterally extending supporting lugs, said main section having an uninterrupted upper'edge level with the surface of.

a floor in which the strip is used, and an additional section supported upon said supportinglugs, said additional section also having its upper edge level with the surface of'the floor, and producing, with said main section, a combinedstrip the upper portion of which has a greater thickness than the upper portion of said main section, the outer edges of said lugs beingbent over parts of said additional section, securely locking said additional section in position. 12. A dividing strip for terrazzo fioorsand the like, comprising a main strip'section pro- A. vided with laterally extending supporting lugs, said main section having an uninterrupted upper edge levelwith the surface of a floor in which the strip is used, and an additional angle section supported upon said supportinglugs,said additional sectionalso having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and producing. with said main sec-- tion, a combined strip the upper portion of whichhas a greater thicknessthan the upper portion of saidmain section, the outer edges of said lugs being bent over the. edge of the base flange of said additional section, securely locking said additional sectionin position.

13. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the like, com iirising a main strip sectionprovided with supporting lugs laterallyextending therefrom at each side thereof, said'main section having an uninterrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in which the strip is usedand an additional section at each side of said strip, supported upon said supporting lugs. each of said additional sections also having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and produc1ng,'-w1th said main section, a comb ned stripthe-upper portion of. which has a greater thickness than sections also having its upper edge level with u the surface of the floor, and producing, with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of which has a greater thickness than the upper portion of said main section, the

outer edges of said lugs being bent over the edge of the base flange of said additional sections, securely locking said additional sections in position.

15. The method of producing dividing strips for terrazzofloors and the like, said strips havingtheir upper edges of varyingwidths, which consists in placing against the side of, and supporting upon a main section, an additional section or sections the upper edge of which is level with the edge of said main section so as to increase the width there- 16. The method of producing dividing strips for terrazzo floors and the like, said strips having their upper edges of varying widths, which consists in placing against the side of. and supporting upon a main section,

an additional section or sections the upper edge of which is level with the edge of said main'section so as to increase the width thereof, and securely locking said additional section or sections in position. I

17. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a main strip section provided at a point intermediate its upper and lower edges, with laterally extending supporting means adapted to support additional sections, and additional section retaining means, integral with said strip, project ing upwardly of the outer edge of said supporting means, said main section having an uninterrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in which the stripis used, and being adapted per se to be used as a complete strip.

18. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors or the like, comprising a main strip section provided at a point intermediate its upper and loweredges, with laterally extending sup- Tor i'os porting means adapted to support additional sections, and additional section retaining means, integral with said strip, projecting upwardly of the outer edge of said supporting means. said main section having an uninterrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in which the strip is used, and being adapted per se to be used as a complete strip, said laterally extending supporting means acting as positionng means for the strip determining the depth at which the strip is to be inserted within the floor composition.

19. A dividing strip for terrazzo floors and the like, comprising a main strip section provided with laterally extending supporting means, said main section having an uninterrupted upper edge level with the surface of a floor in which the strip is used, and an additional section supported upon said supporting means, said additional section also having its upper edge level with the surface of the floor, and producing with said main section, a combined strip the upper portion of which has a greater thickness than the upper portion of said main section, said laterally extending supporting means acting as positioning means for the strip determining the depth at which the strip is to be inserted within the floor composition.

PASQUALE GALASSL 

